A Coolup roadhouse has captured security footage of a violent attack by five vandals that destroyed their store and caused thousands of dollars worth of damage.

In the footage, which was released on social media, a number of children can be seen breaking into the Placid Ark Roadhouse, destroying a cabinet to obtain cigarettes and then senselessly pulling shelves off walls.

In the Facebook post sharing the video, the owners said they were grateful to the community for its “kind thoughts and offers of help”.

They said the attack occurred about 3.30am on Sunday morning.

“We had a visit from 5 destructive THIEVES,” they wrote on Facebook.

“They took about two and a half minutes to smash their way in through the glass in the front door, stole very little but trashed the shop.